Penryn 39, Tavistock 0

Penryn chalked up a third consecutive bonus point win of the season and set up a top of the table show down with local rivals Falmouth, following a six try demolition of Tavistock.

Returning home from a first win on the road of the season, the Borough ignored the difficult conditions and caused their visitors no end of trouble with an excellently fluid attacking display and an equally satisfying defensive shut out.

It was Tavistock who made initial inroads at the beginning of the game, with a few strong surges but the Penryn defence was equal to it and would nullify any threat all afternoon. It didn’t take the home side long to get on the scoreboard and they did so in the shape of a strong driving maul that skipper George Jones finished off. Matt Horton added the extra two to give Penryn the maximum seven point start.

The scrum was a real weapon for the hosts all afternoon, and much like the driving maul did minutes before, it saw the Borough over the line for a second try – this time in the shape of number eight Jordan Rose. Horton couldn’t convert this time but did add a penalty at the end of a comfortable half to give Penryn a 15-0 lead.

The first half was solid and industrious, but the second 40 would really light up the memorial ground and Penryn wasted no time at the beginning of the half.

A searing break from fly half Mitchell Vague took Penryn to within inches of the line and after a composed couple of phases, Rose fed winger Josh Chambers who finished well in the corner. Horton converted and Penryn were now practically out of sight.

It was déjà vu from the resulting kick off, as Rose darted through a gap to take Penryn close again from first phase. Excellent forward and back interplay, with some lovely hands for good measure sent Colin Campbell into the other corner for a superbly worked team try that also brought a bonus point. Horton’s conversion took it to 29-0 and it was now a question of how many Penryn would score.

The conditions may have limited Penryn’s ability to really cut loose at this stage, but it did nothing to dampen the quality of the scores that were to come, with the next try an absolute gem. With advantage to the home side and essentially a free play for the Borough, scrum half Tian Peacock put in an inch perfect kick that was superbly read by Chambers, who still had it all to do before plucking the ball out of the air and finishing in the corner for a score the home crowd really enjoyed. Horton couldn’t convert but at 34-0 it was of little consequence.

The visitors put up brave resistance towards the end, but there was still time for Penryn to add another score. Rose added his second from close range after a series of Penryn drives took its toll on the Tavistock defence. Penryn stay in second place two points behind early leaders Falmouth, with the two facing off this Saturday for stop spot in a huge local derby.

Penryn: Horton, Chambers, Hitchens, Seviour, Campbell, Vague, Peacock, Oldfield, Birkett, Burley, Hancock, Hughes, Randlesome, Jones (capt), Rose reps: Williams, Trevaskis, Strick

Tries: Jones, Chambers (2), Rose (2), Campbell

Conversions: Horton (3)

Penalty: Horton